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Happy 2024, everyone! May your year be full of wins for your favorite teams, fantasy successes and perfect parlays.

Let’s get right to it.

🏈 Football Five
The Packers eased past the Vikings, 33-10. Green Bay now controls its postseason destiny and can get in with a win against the Bears next weekend, however, Minnesota is all but eliminated from the playoffs.
The Chiefs won the AFC West for the eighth straight year with a 25-17 triumph over the Bengals. Kansas City will be the No. 3 seed, though, its worst seeding of the Patrick Mahomes era.
The AFC South is wild. The division-leading Jaguars beat the Panthers, 26-0, without Trevor Lawrence; C.J. Stroud returned to lead the Texans to a 26-3 win over the Titans; and the Colts got a 23-20 win over the Raiders. Texans-Colts next week is a win-and-in.
The Steelers kept pace with Houston and Indianapolis with a 30-23 win over the Seahawks behind 202 yards rushing, including 122 from Najee Harris.
The Rams are in the playoffs as Los Angeles escaped with a wild 26-25 win over the Giants. New York muffed a late two-point conversion and failed to connect on an even later field goal. That plus the Seahawks’ loss clinched the postseason berth for the Rams.
☝️ Good morning to everyone but especially …
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USATSI
THE NO. 1 SEEDS: THE BALTIMORE RAVENS AND THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

It was nearly halftime, and the battle for the AFC’s No. 1 seed between the Ravens and the Dolphins was living up to the hype, with Baltimore leading 14-13. Then …

Lamar Jackson found a wide-open Zay Flowers for a 75-yard touchdown.
Less than a minute later, Roquan Smith picked off Tua Tagovailoa.
Four plays later, Jackson fired a fourth-and-7 dart to Isaiah Likely, who snagged the ball with one hand, turned upfield and went 35 yards for a touchdown.
Justice Hill took the second-half kickoff 78 yards. Three plays later, Jackson found a wide-open Likely for a 7-yard score.
That explosion was emblematic of just how dominant the Ravens are: In four and a half minutes, they turned a 14-13 lead into a 35-13 slaughter … and they didn’t stop there. By the time it mercifully ended, the scoreboard read Ravens 56, Dolphins 19.

Baltimore is the AFC’s No. 1 seed, clinching home-field advantage and a first-round bye, and Lamar Jackson might have wrapped up his second MVP with 321 yards passing and five touchdowns. The Ravens are in a league of their own, and it’s a testament to the entire organization.

The stars: Jackson was the 32nd pick (and fifth quarterback selected) in 2018. The Ravens traded up to get him. It’s one of the greatest moves in franchise history. With 106 yards receiving today, Flowers set the franchise’s single-season rookie receiving record. The Ravens acquired/rescued Smith from the Bears last season and made him the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker.
The depth: Likely was a seldom-used backup before Mark Andrews’ injury. Hill wasn’t expected to contribute much, but injuries forced him into action. They combined for 154 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
The results: Baltimore has a +170 point differential against teams with winning records. That would be the best since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
The proof is in the pudding. The Ravens are awesome.

Also awesome? The 49ers, who clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Brock Purdy threw for a pair of scores and broke the franchise’s single-season passing record in a 27-10 win over the Commanders. San Francisco got help elsewhere — more on that in a bit — to earn that conference’s first-round bye as well as home-field advantage.

🎉 Honorable mentions
Here are our top 23 headline-making moments from 2023.
The Bears (via the Panthers) clinched the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, and Matt Eberflus is expected to be the head coach who helps make it.
The Braves acquired Chris Sale from the Red Sox, who signed Lucas Giolito.
Amarius Mims declared for the NFL Draft.
In men’s college basketball, No. 10 Marquette rallied past No. 22 Creighton, 72-67, and Florida Gulf Coast upset No. 7 Florida Atlantic, 72-68. Here are the weekly grades.
In women’s college basketball, No. 2 UCLA topped No. 6 USC, 71-64.
R.J. Anderson handed out MLB offseason grades so far.
Congrats on retirement, Goran Dragic!
😬 And not such a good morning for …
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THE DETROIT LIONS AND THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

It’s the call heard ’round the world. Or the reporting not heard ’round the few feet between left tackle Taylor Decker and referee Brad Allen. Or misheard. Or misidentified. Who knows? This is a mess. Saturday night, the Lions were robbed of a potential game-winning two-point conversion in a 20-19 loss to the Cowboys.

After Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown on an 11-yard touchdown to get Detroit to within a point with 23 seconds left in the game, the Lions opted to go for two.
Decker, Penei Sewell and Dan Skipper, who subbed in, all went over to Allen. Decker said he then reported to Allen. Allen apparently heard/thought he heard/interpreted Skipper report as eligible, announced No. 70 (Skipper) as eligible and told the Cowboys as much.
Decker caught Goff’s pass in the end zone. The officials flagged Decker for illegal touching. In the immediate aftermath, Dan Campbell was shown repeatedly yelling “I told you!” In his press conference, Campbell said he even discussed what the team would do in that exact situation with Allen pregame. Skipper was adamant he hadn’t said anything.
In the postgame pool report, Allen said Skipper reported as eligible and Decker did not. He also acknowledged Skipper didn’t have to report as eligible considering where he lined up (so why he would report in the first place?) and Skipper had reported as eligible on earlier plays that game (maybe this was a source of confusion?).
The Lions still went for two from the 7-yard line and failed, but Micah Parson was lined up offsides. On the third two-point try, Goff threw incomplete to James Mitchell. Game over.
CBS Sports NFL rules analyst Gene Steratore said there likely was a miscommunication because Allen was looking at Skipper when Decker reported. The NFL is reportedly expected to downgrade Allen’s crew. And it should. This was inexcusable.

The Eagles also have no excuses: Philadelphia fell, 35-31, to the Cardinals. Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon — the Eagles’ defensive coordinator last year — saw his team rack up 449 yards against his former unit. Philadelphia’s offense, meanwhile, managed just 275 yards.

There are lots of issues. The offense is disjointed. A frustrated A.J. Brown had “nothing to say.” The defense is flat-out bad: Only the Commanders and Cardinals are worse this year in terms of expected points added.

Combine this result with Saturday night’s, and the result is a disaster for the Eagles. After leading the NFC East pretty much all year, the Eagles ceded the lead to the Cowboys. Dallas will gladly take potentially multiple playoff games at home, where they’re undefeated. Nick Sirianni and the Eagles’ coaching staff were Cody Benjamin’s top loser this week, and Jeff Kerr gave Philadelphia an “F” in our weekly grades.

😣 Not so honorable mentions
The Dolphins lost Bradley Chubb (feared torn ACL) and Xavien Howard (foot) to injury.
Panthers owner David Tepper appeared to throw a drink at a Jaguars fan.
“Too much eggnog” played a role in Aaron Gordon’s dog bite injuries.
Texas star Rori Harmon (torn ACL) is done for the season.
🏈 Updated NFL playoff picture
We entered this week with 24 teams in the playoff hunt. We’re now down to 19. Here’s the playoff picture:

In the AFC …

Ravens: 13-3, clinched No. 1 seed
Dophins 11-5, clinched playoff berth
Chiefs: 10-6, clinched AFC West
Jaguars: 9-7
Browns 11-5, clinched playoff berth
Bills: 10-6
Colts: 9-7
Texans: 9-7
Steelers: 9-7
In the NFC …

49ers: 12-4, clinched No. 1 seed
Cowboys: 11-5, clinched playoff berth
Lions: 11-5, clinched NFC North
Buccaneers: 8-8
Eagles: 11-5, clinched playoff berth
Rams: 9-7, clinched playoff berth
Packers: 8-8
Seahawks: 8-8
Saints: 8-8
Vikings: 7-9
🏆 College Football Playoff: Picks, previews and why any team can win it all
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It’s here! It’s here, it’s here, it’s here: The College Football Playoff semifinals are today, with No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl (preview) and No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington in the Sugar Bowl (preview).

Our college football writers have pumped out an incredible amount of content. Like, truly incredible. You’ll get the link dump soon. But first … Tom Fornelli’s best bets. That includes …

Fornelli: “Michigan has been one of the most dominant teams in the country, and while it doesn’t have nearly the same level of postseason success Alabama has experienced under coach Nick Saban, this is not your typical Alabama team. We’ve seen the Crimson Tide struggle against inferior competition at times this season, and the Wolverines defense is legitimate … Still, I’m not here to sit on the fence, so if I’m going to make a pick, it’s hard to pass up Alabama as an underdog in a College Football Playoff game, no? Pick: Alabama +1.5”
OK, now for the link dump:

Expert picks
Five keys to the Rose Bowl
Five keys to the Sugar Bowl
Why they can win it all: Michigan | Washington | Texas | Alabama
Could Nick Saban and/or Jim Harbaugh move on soon?
It’s time for Michigan to prove itself.
How Texas got “back.”
Arch Manning is getting an awful lot of attention … and handling it like a pro.
As for top non-CFP bowl games …

No. 6 Georgia crushed opt-out- and injury-riddled No. 5 Florida State, 63-3, the largest win in bowl history. Kirby Smart says something has to change.
No. 9 Missouri beat No. 6 Ohio State, 14-3, and Eli Drinkwitz got an extension.
No. 11 Ole Miss topped No. 10 Penn State, 38-25, for the first 11-win season in program history.
Bowls recap
🏀 NBA roundup: Pistons end losing streak, huge Knicks-Raptors trade
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So that’s what a smiling Cade Cunningham looks like! … You may beat the Pistons 28 times in a row, but you’re not gonna beat them 29 times in a row. Detroit got its first win in over two months by beating the Raptors, 129-127, at home Saturday night. The 28 straight defeats tied the longest slide in NBA history. But now it’s over, Detroit. Rejoice!

Toronto was also part of the weekend’s other big NBA news: The Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the Knicks as part of the long-awaited blockbuster for the 3-and-D standout.

Knicks receive: SF OG Anunoby, PF Precious Achiuwa, PG Malachi Flynn
Raptors receive: SF RJ Barrett, PG Immanuel Quickley, 2024 second-round draft pick
Anunoby, 26, is the prototypical modern NBA wing: Last year he made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, led the league in steals per game and shot nearly 39% from 3. Quickley, however, is a really good, fun player and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year runner-up, and Barrett is a talented wing returning to his home country. They’re 24 and 23, respectively. Brad Botkin graded this trade as a win-win.

Elsewhere …

It wasn’t a happy birthday for LeBron James after his would-be game-tying 3 was ruled a 2.
At 39, James still has plenty of milestones to chase.
Tyrese Haliburton joined Magic Johnson and John Stockton with consecutive 20-point, 20-assist games.
The Knicks extended Miles McBride.
📺 What we’re watching Monday
🏈 Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty, 1 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Citrus Bowl: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee, 1 p.m. on ABC
🏀 Timberwolves at Knicks, 3 p.m. on NBA TV
🏒 NHL Winter Classic: Golden Knights at Kraken, 3 p.m. on truTV/TNT
🏈 CFP Semifinal — Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama, 5 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 CFP Semifinal — Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas, 8:45 p.m on ESPN

A new year brought new movement to the AP Top 25 poll. The South Carolina Gamecocks are starting 2024 on top, but they are no longer unanimous as UCLA stole one vote after a win against the USC Trojans.

NC State and Iowa kept their No. 3 and No. 4 spots, but Colorado is new to the top five after a 76-65 win against now-No. 15 Utah. The Buffaloes are 11-1, with their only loss so far being to NC State.

Baylor had the best week, moving up four spots — even ahead of LSU — after a win against Texas. The Longhorns dropped five spots, but still remain in the top 10. Unfortunately for Texas, its season won’t get any easier as star point guard Rori Harmon suffered a torn ACL last week.

UConn is slowly inching its way closer to the top 10 while finding consistency. The Huskies climbed three places to No. 12 following a dominant 95-64 win against a ranked Marquette team.

North Carolina dropped out of the top 25, ending its 34-week run in the rankings — the seventh-longest active streak. Meanwhile, Syracuse entered the top 25 for the first time in the Felisha Legette-Jack era after a 86-81 win against then-No. 13 Notre Dame on Sunday. The 11-1 Orange are off to their best start since the 2017-18 season.

AP Women’s Basketball Top 25
The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ women’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sunday, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

Others receiving votes: North Carolina 49, Washington 36, Oregon St. 19, Texas A&M 16, UNLV 15, Michigan St. 9, Michigan 8, Miami 8, Davidson 6, Mississippi St. 3, Vanderbilt 3.

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

CBS Sports HQ Newsletter
We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge.

I agree to receive the “CBS Sports HQ Newsletter” and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies.
By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount’s Privacy Policy.
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🏆 Good morning to everyone but especially …
THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES AND THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Two wild, unforgettable, instant-classic semifinals. One enticing title game coming up between two teams both looking for their first championship this millennium that will be conference rivals in a few months. College football, you’ve truly outdone yourself.

No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington are heading to the College Football Playoff national championship after hanging on by the skin of their teeth.

Let’s start at the Rose Bowl, where it was deja vu all over again for the Wolverines. The types of self-inflicted wounds and mistakes they hadn’t made since last year’s CFP semifinal — and truly have no explanation for — were mounting.

Then came Michigan’s very best in full force. Blake Corum. J.J. McCarthy. That dominant defense. The Wolverines beat No. 4 Alabama, 27-20, in overtime, in a game that featured just about everything that makes college football great.

After Jase McClellan’s third-quarter touchdown run, Michigan trailed in the second half for the first time all season. Later, Will Reichard’s 52-yard field goal put the Tide up, 20-13, with 4:41 left.
The Wolverines, to that point, had 17 plays for 44 yards and no points in the second half. It looked like Alabama was going to do what it does: Find a way to win.
But with their backs against the wall, Michigan’s stars came to the rescue. McCarthy hit big passes to Corum and Roman Wilson, had a 16-yard keeper and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown to Wilson. The extra point tied it up.
On the first drive of overtime, Corum ripped off runs of 8 and 17 yards, the latter a whirling dervish touchdown (watch it here), the program-record 56th of his career.
Jalen Milroe then drove the Crimson Tide down to the 3-yard line, but the Wolverines’ ferocious defense stuffed him on fourth down. Ball game.
When it mattered most, Michigan bullied the bully, writes Dennis Dodd.
That outstanding Michigan defense is going to have quite the test: Washington held on against No. 3 Texas, 37-31, behind a majestic performance from Michael Penix Jr. The lefty super senior made every throw imaginable en route to 430 yards passing, fourth-most in any CFP game. Watching him throw to future NFLers Rome Odunze (125 yards), Ja’Lynn Polk (122 yards, one touchdown), and Jalen McMillan (58 yards, one touchdown) is magical — a master at work.

But it was the defense that had to stand tall as this game, too, came down to the final play. The Huskies appeared to have the game sealed after recovering an onside kick late. Then all hell broke loose.

Washington’s Dillon Johnson got hurt on a third-down run, which stopped the clock. Instead of getting the ball back with about 10 seconds left, the Longhorns got it with 45. And they got it in great field position due to a boneheaded kick catch interference penalty by Washington.
Quinn Ewers hit Jordan Whittington for 41 yards and Jaydon Blue for 16 more to get Texas to the Washington 12-yard line with 15 seconds left.
The Longhorns never got any closer, and Elijah Jackson knocked the ball away from an outstretched Adonai Mitchell as time expired.
Michigan-Washington will be an absolute barn burner. Any game between these four teams would have been, frankly, but I’m super excited about this particular matchup. We’ll get a terrific Michigan defensive front — fresh off six sacks — against one of the nation’s best offensive lines, which didn’t allow any sacks Monday. We’ll get stars on both sides of the ball. And, for the final time in the four-team CFP era, we’ll crown a national champion. Whew.

Here’s our early preview of the championship, complete with expert picks.

👍 Honorable mentions
No. 8 Oregon stomped No. 23 Liberty, 45-6, in the Fiesta Bowl behind Bo Nix’s record-breaking performance, and Malik Nabers set a program record himself in No. 13 LSU ‘s 35-31 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin. Here’s our bowls roundup.
Dallas Turner declared for the NFL Draft.
Quarterback movement: DJ Uiagalelei transferred to Florida State, KJ Jefferson transferred to UCF and Cam Ward declared for the NFL Draft.
Here’s how the Lions plan to move past the controversial finish against the Cowboys.
Ahead of the Winter Classic, the Kraken dressed up as fishermen, the Golden Knights dressed up like Elvis, and Seattle cruised, 3-0, for its fifth straight win.
Here are the men’s basketball AP Top 25 and the women’s basketball AP Top 25.
We have 2024 predictions for the USMNT and the USWNT.
Steven Taranto recalled the late, great Cale Yarborough’s best moments.
The USFL and the XFL merged.
💔 And not such a good morning for …
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THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AND THE TEXAS LONGHORNS

At most programs, a national title within the last four years is a success. At Alabama, it earns you a shake of the head and an “I can’t believe it’s been that long.” The Crimson Tide are officially on their longest championship drought of the Nick Saban era, and they’ll view Monday night’s loss as one that got away.

Michigan kept trying to give the game away: two muffed punts, a poor snap on a failed extra point, a botched flea flicker, a missed field goal and several drops. Against so many of Saban’s Alabama teams, those miscues would have been killers, especially in games of this magnitude. But not this time.

Aside from the six sacks taken, Milroe had an awful fumble and missed key throws.
Seth McLaughlin derailed an entire drive with his wayward snaps, which he struggled with all night.
The secondary, led by two potential first-round picks, allowed a ton of chunk plays, including a busted coverage on Corum’s 27-yard gain on fourth-and-2 early in the game-tying drive.
The defense hardly put up a fight in overtime. Still, the offense had a chance to tie it before a messy final play.
These had been issues all season, though. Only Old Dominion and Colorado allowed more sacks. The Milroe experience came with magnificent highs and devastating lows. The team that defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship also needed a miracle to beat lowly Auburn the week before. That’s what made this coaching job by Saban so impressive: because this team wasn’t his best.

In the end, though, it’s another title-less season, and, no matter how much a team overachieved or improved, that won’t sit well in Tuscaloosa.

The feeling will be similar in Austin. Texas’ defense got burnt short, long and everywhere in between. The offense was good but not good enough, and two lost fumbles — one deep in their own territory, one deep in Washington’s — now loom even larger considering how shockingly close the Longhorns came. But close isn’t good enough. The Crimson Tide and the Longhorns now know that as well as anyone.

👎 Not so honorable mentions
Christian McCaffrey (mild calf strain) will miss Week 18 … but it’s nothing serious, per Kyle Shanahan.
The Rams are going back to Brett Maher at kicker after Lucas Havrisik’s struggles.
Bradley Chubb (torn ACL) is done for the year.
🏈 NFL Week 18 playoff-clinching scenarios
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We’re into Week 18 of the NFL season, and there are still five playoff berths up for grabs … and 10 seeds to be determined.

Here’s what has been determined: In the AFC …

The Ravens, Dolphins, Chiefs and Browns have clinched a playoff berth.
The Ravens (No. 1, home-field advantage, first-round bye), Chiefs (No. 3) and Browns (No. 5) have clinched their exact seed.
In the NFC …

The 49ers, Cowboys, Lions, Eagles and Rams have clinched a playoff berth.
The 49ers (No. 1, home-field advantage, first-round bye) are the only team that’s clinched its exact seed.
Now for what’s TBD: We have every single scenario here, but perhaps the craziest lies in the AFC South, where the Jaguars, Colts and Texans are all 9-7 and still alive for both the division crown and a wild-card berth. Jacksonville leads the division, and Indianapolis is currently the No. 7 seed; Houston is No. 8.

The Steelers need help to make it, but it’s impressive they even have a chance. Mason Rudolph — the third different starting quarterback this year — has led a surprising offensive resurgence, and he’ll be the Week 18 starter against the Ravens, Mike Tomlin said.

It could end up being straightforward in the NFC — the Buccaneers (at Panthers) and Packers (vs. Bears) have win-and-in contests — but there’s chaos if either falters. Remember, weird things do tend to happen in the final week.

⚾ Wander Franco arrested after failing to appear at summons
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Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday. The arrest stems from his failure to appear at a court summons last week, not from his alleged relationship with a minor that put him on MLB’s restricted list back in August.

Last week, Franco did not appear at a summons at the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors.
Franco and his new attorneys met with prosecutors Monday morning to address the allegations. Franco will go before a judge by tomorrow at the latest.
Per reports, at least two people have filed legal action against Franco; a third has accused him of improper behavior without seeking legal action.
Dominican Republic authorities and MLB continue to investigate the allegations.
📺 What we’re watching Tuesday
🏀 Bulls at 76ers, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 No. 8 North Carolina at Pittsburgh (M), 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Syracuse at No. 14 Duke (M), 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Northwestern at No. 9 Illinois (M), 9 p.m. on BTN
🏀 Magic at Warriors, 10 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 New Mexico at No. 13 Colorado State (M), 10:30 p.m. on FS1

The Denver Nuggets just pulled off one of the wildest victories of the NBA season, capping a 25-4 run over the game’s final six-plus minutes with a 39-foot, banked-in buzzer-beater from Nikola Jokic to stun the host Golden State Warriors, 130-127, on Thursday.

Seriously, look at this shot from Jokic:

HE IS HIM. GAME WINNER. pic.twitter.com/YeuYZVTMRv

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 5, 2024
Stan Van Gundy took the words out of everyone’s mouth: “Are you kidding me?” A 7-footer pulling up off the dribble from outside the logo at the buzzer? Bank or no bank, Jokic is something else. I mean, the dude has missed only five shots over his last four games. And, yes, you read that right. After going 13 for 16 for 34 points on Thursday, Jokic has now made 39 of his last 44 shots.

Malone said everyone on the Nuggets bench thought Jokic’s shot was good as soon as he released it. Said he wishes he could say that’s the exact play he drew up.

“Nikola lives for those moments. And it’s great and joyful a player of his talent … make the plays that he makes.”

— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) January 5, 2024
So this is great for the reigning champion Nuggets, who are kind of coasting along waiting for the postseason, if we’re being honest. But on the other side of a victory like this there is always a team bleeding out, and for the Warriors, this is without question the toughest loss in a season that has been filled with close-but-no-cigar losses.

So far Golden State has played in a league-high 27 clutch games, which are defined as games being within five points with five minutes or fewer to play. They are 13-14 in those games. Treading water.

This is the kind of loss that can put you under.

“These games all come down to the wire it feels like for us this year,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “These are gut punches, for sure.”

With the loss, the Warriors, for the time being, fall out of a Play-In Tournament spot at 16-18, a half-game back of the also-reeling Lakers for the No. 10 seed. The Warriors are not even close to as good as the Nuggets, but on any given night, they can still play with anyone in the league. They just don’t have any margin for error anymore. They can’t turn the ball over, particularly at the wrong time. They can’t go cold when it’s time to close.

They did both on Thursday. Stephen Curry missed all five of his shots over the final six minutes and threw away the pass that gave the Nuggets their final, game-winning possession. Chris Paul, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins all missed crucial jumpers. And on the other end, the Warriors couldn’t get stops.

Call the Jokic winner a bad roll of the dice, but the game was going the wrong way long before that, and the Warriors paid the price for letting a championship team hang around a little too long.

Steve Kerr spoke about the concept in great detail prior to the Golden State Warriors’ matchup against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night — “It’s a very stressful job, but only relatively speaking” was chief among his Popovichian axioms.

Little did Kerr know exactly how crucial that perspective would become just a few hours later.

As Nikola Jokic’s 39-foot, one-legged heave from just inside the half-court line floated through the air, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the dagger would land squarely in the arteries of the Warriors’ hearts. After a 22-4 Denver run over the final six-and-a-half minutes that erased an 18-point Golden State lead, Jokic’s game-winner sealed a 130-127 Nuggets win — and one of the most deflating losses of a disappointment-riddled Warriors season.

“This is a tough one,” Kerr said after the game. “This is as tough as they get — this loss tonight.”

The rapid turnaround bordered on cringeworthy for everyone except the Nuggets and their fans. After a season-best 44-point third quarter, the Warriors were on cruise control as their lead approached 20 midway through the fourth — players chest-bumping, fans rejoicing, the vibes tangibly improving by the second.

From that point on, however, they watched helplessly as the basket that had appeared as vast as the ocean for most of the game suddenly slammed shut. Meanwhile, Denver bludgeoned Golden State inside, consistently scoring at the rim and from the foul line to seize back momentum.

What was poised to be a celebratory, potentially transformative night for the Warriors devolved into yet another jagged lump of evidence suggesting that the unparalleled mojo of the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green dynasty is rapidly nearing — and perhaps past — its expiration date.

Thursday was the fourth time this season that the Warriors lost a game which they led by 18 points or more. The most glaring instance was the one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings in late November, which saw Golden State surrender a 24-point lead, costing them a potential appearance in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. Just two games later, they blew a 22-point lead in a loss to the Clippers. And don’t forget Chet Holmgren’s improbable game-tying corner 3-pointer that powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to an overtime victory at Chase Center shortly after.

“I have never had, like, such good wins and such bad losses,” Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski said after Thursday’s defeat. “I kind of lean into the vets on what they think, and they just tell me it’s another game coming and just try to be consistent in your daily habits, your routine — and more often times than not we’ll come out with a victory. But, like I said, we’re blowing a lot of leads. We could easily have 20-25 wins this year.”

It’s been a bumpy, often heartbreaking ride for the now 16-18 Warriors, who are currently sitting outside of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament picture at 11th place. With Thompson and Andrew Wiggins underperforming for most of the season and Green still serving an indefinite suspension, Kerr’s word — perspective — is becoming more and more difficult to maintain.

With each loss mounts more suffocating pressure to not only salvage the season, but also to resurrect the charisma, success and synergy that’s become associated with Golden State’s logo over the past decade.

“You don’t want to be in position where you’re having to explain away bad losses,” Curry said on Thursday night. “But that’s who we are right now.”

The Warriors have, on occasion, taken the optimistic approach to their late-game failures. Of their 34 games this season, a league-leading 27 have been of the clutch variety — within five points with five minutes remaining. That’s led to a lot of tough losses (14, to be exact), but it also means that Golden State is in nearly every game until the end. If the ball bounces slightly different, the execution is slightly more crisp or a foul call goes their way, suddenly their record looks a lot more appealing.

But it’s hard to be an optimist when you’re losing, especially the way the Warriors have been losing.

Now, more than ever, perspective has to be king in order to prevent the season from cratering, along with the ramifications that would accompany that failure. The page that the Warriors must turn seemingly each and every night is getting heavier by the loss, but if anyone understands the fickle nature of the NBA — the ability of fortunes to change at the slightest twist of fate — it’s the veterans and champions that lead Golden State’s organization.

“When you lose hope in yourself as a team, that’s when the conversation changes. We’re not there,” Curry remarked. “… Even with the record we [have] now, we know we can compete. Just a situation where you’re out there with a look of despair on your face because you’re trying to figure out how it happened. We have to fight that balance right now for us to give ourselves a chance.”

It was almost as if the NBA schedule-makers knew something special was going to happen on Thursday, a January night that featured a month low of only two games scheduled between two title-ready squads and two teams that — to varying degrees — are struggling to find their footing.

But the unexpected happened. Early. Late. And then very late. Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs’ unit, that until Thursday night looked more like project than playoffs this season, did not back down against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the championship-minded Bucks in the first career battle between the faces of their respective franchises. (The late game saw the defending champion Nuggets down by 18 midway through the fourth quarter before closing the night on 24-5 run to top the gobsmacked Warriors, who, once again, find themselves searching for answers. With the game tied at 127, Nikola Jokic banked in a 39-footer as time expired.)

Wembanyama, the top pick in last year’s draft, missed the Dec. 19 meeting in Milwaukee due to a leg injury, meaning that one of his birthday gifts was his first time squaring off against Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. But the Spurs’ standout rookie, now 20, shined in a back-and-forth matchup with the former two-time league MVP. Tallying 27 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the Spurs’ 125-121 loss, Wembanyama displayed all of the traits that have most observers thinking that it’s just a matter of time before there’s a changing of the guard.

Currently, the rookie phenom is dealing with some lingering ankle soreness that has limited his workload and will keep him out of back-to-back contests for the foreseeable future. Still, Wembanyama made the most of his 26 minutes played, including some ridiculous highlight-reel-worthy plays in the game’s final frame.

“Of course I can’t spend the whole game on the floor, but I felt like I made those minutes count,” Wembanyama said. “And we managed to keep me in enough minutes, so I could be on the court at the end.”

And make those minutes count he did. Let’s dive into all the drama that played out over the game’s final half.

To start, Wembanyama only had four points in each of the first two quarters, but came out of halftime firing. The Spurs won the third quarter 34-29, thanks in part to 13 points from the 7-foot-4 Frenchman. He drained an additional six points in the final frame to finish the second half with 19 points, four rebounds and four blocks.

Here’s a sampling of some of his otherworldly plays throughout the contest. He pulled off a behind-the-back dunk through contact, a self-alley-oop and blocked Antetokounmpo’s driving basket.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA GOES BEHIND THE BACK FOR THE POSTER 🤯pic.twitter.com/bTnN96g5ci

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA WITH THE SELF ALLEY-OOP 😱pic.twitter.com/TZyASYsB9w

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024
Wemby stood TALL for his 5th block of the game at a crucial point.

Spurs fell short in a thriller. https://t.co/yakubmgawx pic.twitter.com/zWh1CyH6EZ

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
Wembanyama also poured in a clutch three-pointer in the game’s minute to tie things up at 121. That three-pointer came at the other end of a clutch block. Again, otherworldly.

WEMBY BLOCK INTO 3 TIES IT UP.

121-121.

Bucks-Spurs on TNT pic.twitter.com/1WFaT2wU9N

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
“I’ve never seen anything like him,” Antetokounmpo said, when reflecting on his first encounter with Wembanyama.

Unfortunately, Wembanyama’s efforts fell just short. Antetokounmpo made a clutch basket to put the Bucks up 123-121, and despite Wembanyama’s block of him on another basket a few moments later, the Spurs were unable to tie the game again.

Antetokounmpo scored 14 points in the final frame to put the game away en route to an impressive double-double — 44 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

“[He’s] somebody I grew up watching and one of the greatest players in the world, so there’s always extra motivation,” Wembanyama said of his matchup with Antetokounmpo. “I’m a competitor, so I’m going to go at everyone and be the bad guy on the court. It was a great matchup.”

Great matchup is a nice way of putting it. The Spurs entered the contest with just five wins, but walked away with delivering one of the most entertaining games of the season.

Said Khris Middleton: “To see those two guys go at it, I don’t think the league has ever seen anything like that.”

And based off Wembanyama’s post-game comments, it sounds like fans can expect similar marquee games from here on out. When asked about any extra motivation following the announcement of All-Star ballots and Rookie of the Month winners, Wembanyama said, “Of course, of course. I’m dedicated and I know at the end of the day I’m going to get what I deserve, and every game is a statement from now on.”

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.

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🏈 Good morning to everyone but especially …
WILL HOWARD AND OHIO STATE

Ohio State has its next quarterback. Will Howard has his next home. The former Kansas State signal-caller is headed to Columbus as the Buckeyes reload — and perhaps improve — under center after Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse.

Howard threw for 24 touchdowns and ran for nine more with the Wildcats last year and had interest in the portal from USC and Miami in addition to Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, he’ll likely compete with Devin Brown for the starting job, though Howard will have one key advantage, notes Dean Straka.

Straka: “Howard may not be a showstopper when it comes to quarterbacks, but his presence does give coach Ryan Day a QB1 option with Power Five starting experience in 2024 — a luxury the team didn’t have last year when the choices were McCord and Brown. With a full offseason at his disposal, Howard should be well versed in Ryan Day’s system by the time Week 1 rolls around.”
👍 Honorable mentions
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are leading the polls in NBA All-Star Game fan voting.
Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama met for the first time, and we were treated to one of the best games of the season.
The Magic will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey.
The Ravens signed Dalvin Cook.
Several Alabama stars are going pro, including projected top-10 pick J.C. Latham and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold.
Texas standouts Jonathan Brooks and Byron Murphy also declared for the NFL Draft. So did Iowa’s Cooper DeJean.
Quinshon Judkins entered the transfer portal.
Penn State added Julian Fleming from the portal, and he’ll help a lot, writes Tom Fornelli. Texas A&M added Nic Scourton.
Here are freshmen who shined in bowls.
The Braves extended Chris Sale.
The Mets signed Harrison Bader.
This is a ridiculous goal from Tim Weah.
Here’s each team’s NHL All-Star.
Oklahoma has a new defensive coordinator.
😲 And not such a good morning for …
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THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

The Warriors were cruising to their best win of the year. They ended up with one of their most soul-crushing regular-season losses not just of the year, but of the Stephen Curry era.

Nikola Jokic banked in a half-court buzzer-beater (watch it here) to lift Denver to a 130-127 win over host Golden State in a matchup of the last two NBA champions. The Nuggets finished the game on a 25-4 run over the final 6:34.

We don’t need to review every aimless offensive possession, every miss and every defensive implosion. The Warriors, now 16-18 this season and 11th in the West, just suffered an absolute backbreaker and have no one to blame but themselves, writes Colin Ward-Henninger.

Ward-Henninger: “What was poised to be a celebratory, potentially transformative night for the Warriors devolved into yet another jagged lump of evidence suggesting that the unparalleled mojo of the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green dynasty is rapidly nearing — and perhaps past — its expiration date.”
Oh yeah, that Jokic fella isn’t half bad, either.

👎 Not-so-honorable mentions
As we mentioned yesterday afternoon, the Lakers are frustrated and losing patience with Darvin Ham.
The Nets were fined $100,000 for violating the NBA’s player participation policy.
Providence star Brycen Hopkins (torn ACL) is done for the season.
UConn’s Aubrey Griffin suffered a knee injury.
Jason Zucker was suspended three games for an illegal hit.
🏈 NFL Week 18 picks
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It’s here. Week 18, in all of its glory. Sixteen games — 13 with playoff implications, three with draft implications. It starts tomorrow, first with the Steelers facing the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens, followed by a win-and-in Texans-Colts showdown. Tyler Sullivan says …

Sullivan: “C.J. Stroud is the X-factor. He gives Houston the clear advantage at quarterback over Gardner Minshew and was solid in his return from his concussion last week against Tennessee. With the rust dusted off of him for this matchup against the Colts, he should find success against a defense that he threw for 384 yards against back in Week 2. The Texans are also 7-0 SU and ATS in their last seven divisional road games. Projected score: Texans 28, Colts 24. The pick: Texans +1”
Sunday, the Packers have their own win-and-in game against the Bears. John Breech says …

Breech: “The Bears are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and they’ll be going into Green Bay with a rushing attack that averages 145.3 yards per game, which is the second-best in the NFL. And they’ll be going up against a Packers defense that has been horrible at stopping the run this season. The pick: Bears 30-27 over Packers”
Justin Fields has made his case to be “the guy” long-term, but how about this defense?! Since Week 10, the Bears lead the league in defensive success rate. So I’m with John here.

Last week I went three for three on my picks, so we’ll try it again. In addition to Bears over Packers, I’m going …

Saints over Falcons
Jaguars over Titans
As for our experts’ picks …

Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Jordan Dajani | Tyler Sullivan

💰 NIL changes coming this year?
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Remember one month ago when NCAA president Charlie Baker proposed a pay-for-play plan that would revolutionize college sports and create a new subdivision of D-I schools? It may be coming sooner than you think.

According to CBS Sports insider Dennis Dodd, the NCAA will consider adopting at least part of Baker’s proposal as soon as August.

If you don’t quite remember the details, here’s a great summary from Shehan Jeyarajah.

Jeyarajah: “Membership in the new subdivision would be voluntary, but would require an investment of at least $30,000 per year into an educational trust fund for at least half of its total number athletes. … The football-based subdivision would be independent of the FBS and FCS dichotomy. Teams at either level are eligible to opt into the football subdivision. However, teams that opt in will ultimately be able to exist at a different level than the rest of college football. The group could decide different roster sizes, recruitment practices, transfer or NIL rules, even while competing against other members of FBS or FCS working under the existing rules.”
More details:

Baker’s plan would add many benefits powerhouse programs might have sought by breaking away from the NCAA, while remaining under the NCAA umbrella.
Athletes would be directly compensated without them being designated (or protected) as employees.
The educational trust fund would be in addition to scholarships.
The remaining FBS schools would still have access to the College Football Playoff.
Several top athletic directors have voiced support for the proposal.
Per Dennis’ reporting, the NCAA Council will meet in April to discuss, in June to finalize recommendations and in August to act on the recommendations — and potentially institute them by next football season. The creation of a new subdivision could come by January 2025.

There are still lots of hurdles from many sides: schools, athletic departments, student-athletes and even legal representation. But for now, it looks like Baker’s proposal could be taking steps forward, and soon.

🏀 What it’s like to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton
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“Diabolical.”

That’s how one of Tyrese Haliburton’s teammates described Haliburton’s passing to Jack Maloney. And it’s a fair way to put it. Haliburton is the NBA’s assists leader at 12.7 per game. Only six players have ever averaged a dozen assists. And it’s not just that Haliburton racks up the assist numbers. It’s the lack of turnovers, too. No one has ever averaged 12 assists with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, as Haliburton is doing currently.

Diabolical indeed.

Jack has a wonderful story on what it’s like to play alongside Haliburton, as told by his Pacers teammates. Some of my favorite descriptions?

“Shit, he’s artistic, man.”
“He makes it flashy, but it’s the right play every time.”
“It’s just Tyrese.”
If you didn’t catch Haliburton’s star rise during the In-Season Tournament, I’m sorry. The good news is it’s not too late. He and the Pacers host the Hawks tonight and the NBA-best Celtics tomorrow and Monday.

📺 What we’re watching this weekend
Friday
🏀 Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 9 Illinois at No. 1 Purdue (M), 9:30 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Grizzlies at Lakers, 10 p.m. on ESPN

Saturday
🏀 No. 7 Marquette at Seton Hall (M), noon on CBS Sports Network
🏀 No. 8 North Carolina at No. 16 Clemson (M), noon on ESPN2
🏀 TCU at No. 2 Kansas (M), 2 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Steelers at Ravens, 4:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN
🏀 No. 22 Ole Miss at No. 5 Tennessee (M), 6 p.m. on SEC Network
🏈 Texans at Colts, 8:15 p.m. on ABC/ESPN

Sunday
🏀 No. 3 NC State at No. 13 Virginia Tech (W), noon on ACC Network
🏀 Mississippi State at No. 1 South Carolina (W), 1 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Jaguars at Titans, 1 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Buccaneers at Panthers, 1 p.m. on Fox
🏀 No. 7 LSU at Ole Miss, 3 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 Cowboys at Commanders, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Eagles at Giants, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Bears at Packers, 4:25 p.m. on CBS
🏈 Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. on Fox
🏈 Bills at Dolphins, 8:20 p.m. on NBC

The Washington Wizards (6-27) will have revenge on their mind when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-15) on Friday night. Cleveland dominated Washington on Wednesday, cruising to a 140-101 blowout win. The Cavaliers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and are in third place in the Central Division standings. Washington is sitting only ahead of Detroit at the bottom of the conference.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavs are favored by 10 points in the latest Wizards vs. Cavaliers odds, while the over/under is 239 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Washington vs. Cleveland. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavs vs. Wizards:

Cavaliers vs. Wizards spread: Cavaliers -10
Cavaliers vs. Wizards over/under: 239 points
Cavaliers vs. Wizards money line: Cavaliers: -490, Wizards: +368
Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Cavaliers can cover
Cleveland posted season-highs in multiple categories on Wednesday night, including points (140), 3-point percentage (47.6) and rebounds (62). The Cavaliers matched their season-best in offensive rebounds (18) while equaling their largest ever margin of victory over Washington. Max Strus knocked down six 3-pointers, while Donovan Mitchell added four.

Strus was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points, shooting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Sam Merrill, Georges Niang and Caris LeVert each added three triples. The Cavaliers have covered the spread in six of their last nine games, and they have covered in four of their last five home games against Washington. The Wizards have lost eight of their last nine road games and have only covered twice in their last six games overall. See which team to pick here.

Why the Wizards can cover
Cleveland has struggled to build on its best performances this season, following up double-digit wins with losses on three occasions. The Cavaliers lost to Portland at home two days after their previously most lopsided victory of the season, which came in a 128-105 final against Atlanta. Washington has done a quality job of bouncing back from blowout losses, with its most recent win coming two days after a 30-point loss to Toronto.

In fact, all six of the Wizards’ wins have come after a double-digit loss, including their 110-104 win over Brooklyn last Friday. Kyle Kuzma scored a game-high 26 points, while Deni Avdija added 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Kuzma finished 7 of 12 from the floor and scored a team-best 16 points in the loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. The Wizards also get to face an undermanned Cavs team missing Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee). See which team to pick here.

How to make Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks
The model has simulated Wizards vs. Cavs 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA interconference matchup on Friday. Brooklyn is 15-20 overall and 9-8 at home, while Oklahoma City is 23-10 overall and 9-5 on the road. The Thunder defeated the Nets, 124-108, in their lone meeting last season.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Oklahoma City is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Thunder vs. Nets odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 234 points. Before entering any Nets vs. Thunder picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Brooklyn vs. Oklahoma City. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Thunder vs. Nets:

Nets vs. Thunder spread: Thunder -5.5
Nets vs. Thunder over/under: 234 points
Nets vs. Thunder money line: Nets: +168, Thunder: -203
OKC: The Thunder have won four straight games against the Nets
BRK: The Nets are 11-5-1 against the spread at home this season
Nets vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine
What to know about the Thunder
The Thunder had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 141-138 loss to the Hawks on Wednesday, but they are still playing some of their best basketball in years. Oklahoma City has won eight of its last 10 games en route to a 23-10 record, which is the second-best mark in the Western Conference. The Thunder knocked off some of the NBA’s best during that recent five-game winning streak, including the Nuggets and Celtics.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is firmly putting himself in the discussion and toward the front of the line for conversations about the best scorers in the NBA. The 25-year-old is third in scoring at 31.4 points per game while holding the 18th-best shooting percentage (54.6%). He has the best shooting percentage among guards, including the ninth-highest for players averaging at least 10 shots per game and the fifth-best for those averaging more than 15 field goal attempts per contest. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30-plus points in eight of the last nine games and will be a challenge for the Nets to contain. See which team to pick here.

What to know about the Nets
While the Thunder are playing some of their best basketball in recent memory, the same can’t exactly be said about the Nets. Brooklyn has lost five straight games, but it returns home to the Barclays Center after a four-game road trip, hoping that translates to better play. The Nets split their two most recent home contests.

After averaging 19.7 ppg in December, Cameron Thomas isn’t off to the best start to begin 2024. The 22-year-old shooting guard is 0 for 18 over the first two games of the calendar year, scoring just four total points. Cameron Johnson has led Brooklyn in scoring in back-to-back contests, averaging 16 ppg over that stretch. Thomas still leads Brooklyn in points at 20.8 ppg followed by Mikal Bridges’ 20.7 ppg, so a return to Brooklyn may be exactly what Thomas needs to return to his scoring ways. Brooklyn remains without Ben Simmons (back), while Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) is probable after missing the last 17 games. See which team to pick here.

How to make Nets vs. Thunder picks
The model has simulated Thunder vs. Nets 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

We’ve got another exciting Western Conference matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers will face off. Los Angeles is 17-18 overall and 11-5 at home, while Memphis is 11-23 overall and 8-10 on the road. The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies, 134-107, at home in their first meeting of the season.

Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 4-point favorites in the latest Grizzlies vs. Lakers odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 227 points. Before entering any Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Memphis. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Grizzlies vs. Lakers:

Lakers vs. Grizzlies spread: Lakers -4
Lakers vs. Grizzlies over/under: 227 points
Lakers vs. Grizzlies money line: Lakers: -181, Grizzlies: +150
MEM: The Grizzlies are 2-1 ATS in their last three games as the underdog by at least four points
LAL: The Lakers are 7-1 at home against the Grizzlies in their last eight meetings
Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks: See picks at SportsLine
What to know about the Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 5-4 since the return of Ja Morant from a 25-game suspension to begin the season, including 5-3 in the eight contests the electrifying guard played in. Morant has shown little signs of rust, averaging 26.6 points on 47.7% shooting along with 8.3 assists. The 24-year-old had 28 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a 116-111 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday. Morant has scored at least 40 points in two of his last five regular-season matchups against the Lakers and posted 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against L.A. in their final meeting of the regular-season last year.

The Grizzlies have the third-worst ATS record (13-21, 38.2%) in the NBA this season, but they’ve been significantly better against the number since the return of Morant. Memphis is 4-4 ATS with Morant in the lineup, including 3-1 ATS as the underdog. Desmond Bane (24.5 ppg) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (20.8 ppg) are both having career seasons and setting new career highs in scoring. Their production has maintained even with the return of Morant, and with Jackson totaling eight blocks over the last two games, he can challenge LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the paint. See which team to pick here.

What to know about the Lakers
The Lakers have lost three straight games, and reports are coming out that there may be some issues inside the Los Angeles locker room. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 contests and are 1-3 in their last four home contests. The Lakers were held to just 96 points in a 110-96 loss to the Heat on Wednesday despite 29 points and 17 rebounds from Davis.

The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in six games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last season. James averaged 22.2 points. 11.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists, with Davis averaging 20.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks during that series. Despite the Lakers’ recent struggles, the duo of James and Davis have proven despite their ages, they can still carry the team to victories, as displayed during their run to winning the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. Davis (ankle) is probable and James (ankle) is questionable for Friday, while D’Angelo Russell (tailbone) is doubtful. See which team to pick here.

How to make Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks
The model has simulated Grizzlies vs. Lakers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.